Carles Aleñá from FC Barcelona in Mehiläinen Neo Sports Hospital

The promising central midfielder from FC Barcelona, Carles Aleñá (20), had surgery on a hamstring injury at Mehiläinen Sports Medicine in Turku on 7 June 2018. The operation, conducted by the sports orthopaedic surgeons Lasse Lempainen and Sakari Orava, went according to plan.

“The findings during surgery matched the initial MRI findings, and the operation progressed according to plan. The injury was a rupture of the biceps femoris, which in an athlete is best treated through surgery. The biceps femoris is one of the three hamstring muscles,” says Sports Orthopaedic Surgeon Lasse Lempainen from Mehiläinen Sports Medicine. “A realistic estimate for the patient’s return to the football field is in approximately four months. It is important not to rush the rehabilitation to prevent a repeat injury,” Lempainen explains.

Xavier Valle from the FC Barcelona Medical Services team was present, observing the surgery. “We are pleased with our collaboration with Lasse Lempainen and Sakari Orava. The surgery appeared to go really well,” he says.

“FC Barcelona offers outstanding conditions and a step-by-step rehabilitation programme for players to return gradually to the pitch,” adds sports orthopaedic surgeon Sakari Orava. Carles Aleñá injured his hamstring during a match played by FC Barcelona B on Saturday 2 June 2018. Barcelona’s intention is to transfer Aleñá from the reserve team to its first team in the autumn.

Significant international collaborations

Mehiläinen Sports Medicine’s orthopaedists are at the international forefront and well-respected for their know-how in tendon surgery. Their high-level competence has led to extensive collaborations with sporting organisations such as Barcelona football club. The most visible form of collaboration is the treatment of athletes’ injuries, but background work is also done in sports injury research. Lasse Lempainen and Sakari Orava have previously also treated hamstring injuries of FC Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembélé and centre-back Thomas Vermaelen. They will be playing for their respective national teams in 2018 World Cup in Russia this summer.

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Mehiläinen Neo Sports Hospital is a private hospital specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. We excel in minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery and the treatment of sports injuries.

Part of the Mehiläinen Group, the leading private health care provider in Finland.